I have been detailing the boiler, firebox, smokebox unit. It is one of those jobs where you think you are almost there, just a couple of bits to add. A hour later 10 more parts added and the couple you thought you had to do are still undone. So on and so forth.

I think I just need to final fit the handrail, it is not a very straight forward one one these, it has all sorts of kinks and bends. The top feed pipe work was a pain to do, mainly as I want the boiler to come of but the combination of copper brass and white metal does not lead to the easiest construction. Each piece seemed to take an eternity to do, check the drawing, look at the photo, can it be made out on the prototype photo, or is it look a range of locos and see if it was the same across them all.

I also put the cab detail together, I soldered copper wire to all the fittings before assembly. I am quite pleased with the result considering what was in the kit of parts. It looks similar to a hall cab, but the 3 pictures I have are all different. I think with a coat of paint it will pass muster. I just can´t believe that the back head took best part of 4 hours and a cup of coffee.

Now who spotted the bit missing on the boiler section apart from the handrail.

I will now start giving it a good clean, it looks worse than it is, and hopefully a coat or two of paint in the near future. As it is all going to be black I will do it along with its chassis etc, and I will over coat the tender sides ready for the mixed traffic lining.

Agian you will have to forgive me for the quantity of picture. It was not so easy when it was 35mm film you had to think and compose your pictures more, plus the cost of it all you just took fewer. With a bit of luck and a fair wind the next post it will all black. (No not a New Zealand national team).

Yes you were correct, some old fool forgot the smokebox dart. Hopefully after that it will be finished.